Minutes: September 19, 2018

SAC AND FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA

Tribal Council Meeting – September 19, 2018, 5:00 PM

Sac and Fox Tribal Chambers

  1. Meeting called to order at 5:02 m.
  2. Roll Call

Presiding Officer:  Anthony Waseskuk, Chairman

Tribal Council present:  Adrian Pushetonequa, Vice-Chairman; Delonda Pushetonequa, Treasurer; Troy Wanatee, Jarvis Bear; Harvey Davenport, Jr.

Absent:  Apollo Davenport

Staff present:  Bessie Scott, Executive Director; Jay Finch, Attorney General; Bill Thurman, Comptroller; Yolanda Pushetonequa, Tribal Council Secretary; Allison Stewart, Enrollment Director; Azadeh Tavakoli, Human Resources Director; Matt Bear, Apprenticeship Director.

Visitors: Delmer Whitebreast

  1. Ascertainment of Quorum – A quorum was ascertained with 6 council members present.
  2. Agenda approval

The Chairman asked for any changes or additions to the agenda. Motion made by Adrian Pushetonequa to approve the agenda as presented. Jarvis Bear seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried. Reports – none

  1. Reports
  2. Old Business
    1. Community Member Requests
      1. Allison Stewart – Allison is following up to her previous discussion with the council. A meeting will be scheduled with David Burrell to see if a loan program can be started to assist with giving tribal members access to credit for home repairs and renovations. There is a need for assistance especially for those who are also paying mortgage for home ownership off Settlement.
    2. New Business
      1. Committees
        1. Veteran’s Day Committee Request. Azadeh Tavakoli presents a request for sponsorship money for the Veteran’s Contest. Door prizes and gifts for Veterans only Robert Morgan post and Sac & Fox Honor Guard will be present. The typical amount was around $5,000. The committee has received donations from Pinnacle, Meskwaki, Inc. Food is covered by Great Western Bank. Fundraising is done through solicitations various companies and raffling of spoons and bowls. Last year they gifted 125 sweatshirts at $32 each. The amount is not set and they are willing to be flexible. The family is looking to ask for another family to take over the powwow for the future. Harvey requests to see the list of the current folks and gifts to be given. Chairman asks if the council has any objection to giving them an amount of $5,000 as a guidance to estimate their gift list. Chairman requests that the committee return to the next TC Meeting.
  1. Departments
    1. Enrollment –
      1. 6 Recommendations for Enrollment.
      2. Recommendations for Disenrollment

Allison Stewart, Enrollment Director presents a memo regarding the Enrollment Committee’s recent meeting results. The Enrollment Committee met yesterday and approved for recommendation 6 individuals for Enrollment and 2 recommendations for disenrollment.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve the recommendations for enrollment for: Evelynn Mae Keahna; Oliver Thomas Lasley; Tysin Kane Lasley, Jr.; Syrus Clyde Papakee; Breyann Hope Pushetonequa; and Marlene Clara Star Sanache. Troy Wanatee seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

At 5:44pm Jarvis Bear made a motion to go into Executive Session. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

At 5:49 Jarvis Bear made a motion to come out of Executive Session. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Jarvis Bear makes a motion to set a hearing for the two recommended disenrollees.  Troy Wanatee seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Human Resources – Appeals Committee Approval

Azadeh Tavakoli, Human Resources Director presents recommendations for the employees’ Appeals Committee for FY2019. She described the matrix used to make the annual selections.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve the 2019 Appeals Committee. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  • Apprenticeship – Clan House Construction

Matt Bear, Apprenticeship Director, states that Wanda Lasley has requested assistance with the clan house. Matt explains the issues and cautions that a precedent will be set so this approach it with that in mind. He states that a resolution allocating money to Fish Clan was passed in 2017. Jarvis Bear points out that the tribe allocated funding for some materials to some clan houses, but the clan members did the labor themselves. Harvey agrees that a clan should be responsible for conducting the labor themselves. Jarvis advises that Fish Clan also provided their own labor.

Motion by Jarvis Bear to approve $15,000 for materials for Eagle Clan Ceremonial Building. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Jarvis Bear that all requests from clan houses and labor work be made directly to the Tribal Council. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 5 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Jarvis Bear left the meeting at 6:12pm.

  1. Executive Management – Holiday Administrative Days

Bessie Scott and Azadeh Tavakoli request an administrative day off on the day after Thanksgiving. Council members inquire if it could be traded for another day. Azadeh advises that stipulations regarding attendance the following Monday would require a change to the Employee Handbook. In the past 5 years Executive Directors have requested this of the council and they have been granted.

Motion by Troy Wanatee to approve Friday after Thanksgiving off with Administrative Leave. Delonda Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 1 no. Motion carried.

At 6:19 p.m. the Chairman calls a short break.

  1. Fiscal – Approval of Budgets

Bill Thurman, Comptroller presents budgets for FY2019. Yesterday a work session was held between Fiscal and Tribal Council. The details and adjustments were discussed at the work session. Adjustments are now included. Today’s amount for total budget for all tribal programs is $64,059,227. Delonda asks if the council wants to proceed with the idea of adding in a line item for the variable expense of community events. It is anticipated that this year’s expenditures will be $4M under last year.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the 2019 Fiscal Year Operating Budget in the amount of $64,059,227. Harvey Davenport seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to move the Christmas Per Capita Bonus Payment to November 21, 2018. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Attorney General Matters
    1. Blue Star Master Agreement. Jay Finch, Attorney General presents Blue Star Integrative Studio contracts. Presently, two tribal operations departments want to retain Blue Star. The Clinic contract would allow Blue Star to complete the Pharmacy Renovation project and the Housing Department would be able to have access to Blue Star’s services on an on call for any construction needs. Blue Star would not agree to our usual contract language due to a previous loophole problem that did not allow arbitration to happen.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to approve the Blue Star Master Agreement and the Waiver of Sovereignty to Arbitrate. Adrian Pushetonequa seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Blue Star Waiver of Sovereignty to Arbitrate

This was covered with Item 1. Above.

  1. Referendum for Tribal Council Compensation

Chairman needs a motion to approve posting Title 16 Property Code changes for public comment for 30 days.

Motion by Delonda Pushetonequa to publish for public comment the draft of changes to Title 16 Property Code, Article II – Assignment of Land. Harvey Davenport seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.

  1. Campaign Donations

Jay Finch presents Mike Smith’s recommendations for political campaign contributions. They lean toward Democratic Party. According to T.J. Jochum, one is forecasted to not make it this year. Tribal Council would like to hold off on this until the next meeting so Jay can gather more information regarding the reasoning for each dollar amount.

  1. Adjourn

At 7:13p.m. Delonda Pushetonequa made a motion to adjourn. Harvey Davenport seconded. Vote: 4 yes, 0 no. Motion carried.